Abnormal increase in Colombo garbage disposal costs
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An abnormal increase in payments to private institutions is evident in the 2015-2016 period for disposing of waste generated in the Kolonnawa and Meetotamulla areas, a presidential commission says in a report submitted to the president.

According to the report, the payments rose from Rs. 64 million in 2014 to Rs. 182 m and Rs. 232 m in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

The absence of a proper plan to dispose of the waste generated in the Colombo municipal area is cited as the reason for this.

The short and long term solutions proposed to address this issue are yet to be implemented.

The report strongly criticizes the administration of the Colombo Municipal Council during the period A.J.M. Muzammil, presently high commissioner to Malaysia, was its mayor.

Also, there are allegations that present municipal commissioner V.K.A. Anura is to be blamed for the situation.

When contacted, he told Sri Lanka Mirror that there was a misunderstanding as the information provided had not been clarified.

According to him, Army lorries had been deployed before 2014 to transport the garbage, and the CMC supplied the fuel for them only.

After that, tenders were called and vehicles were hired, he said, adding that the monthly payment for them in 2014 exceeded Rs. 20 million.

He also said the expenditure rose due to the major floods that hit Colombo in 2015.

In 2017, the increase was due to having to make a payment of Rs. 3,000 per ton of garbage being disposed of, Anura added.